Coin channel plate for telephone toll apparatus



G. A. LONG COIN CHANNEL PLATE FOR TELEPHONE TOLL APPARATUS \2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 30 ATTORNEY July 10, 1934.' LONG 1,966,413

COIN CHANNEL PLATE FOR TELEPHONE TOLL APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIII Patented July 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN CHANNEL PLATE FOB TELEPHONE TOLL APPARATUS Application July so, 1932, Serial No. 626,970

' 8 Claims. (01. 194-97) My invention relates to the class of devices employed in telephone toll apparatus for directing coins or other tokens toward and .into contact with signalling devices, as bells, gongs, etc,

. 6 and an object of myinvention, among others, is to provide a channel plate that shall cause the coins or tokens to certainly strike the signalling devices in a manner to cause a clear and distinct sound, and a further object of my in- .10 vention is to provide a channel plate havingmeans not only to prevent unlawful use by means of coins or tokens attached to strings or other flexible suspension devices but also to prevent such unlawfully used coins or other devices from remaining in a place to obstruct subsequent passage of a coin or token along the channel or channels.

One form of a channel plate embodying my invention "and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of a coin channel plate embodying my invention, a single signal device of several common to said plate being shown, and this being broken off.

Figure 2 is a front view of a fragment of my- .improved coin channel plate with much of the front plate broken away.

Figure 3 is a front view of a fragment of the back plate comprising part of my improved coin channel plate.

-Figure 4 is a front view of the lower portion of the back and middle'platesof my improved coin channel plate, the upper part of the middle plate being broken away.

Figure 5 is a top, edge view of my improved plate.

Figure 6 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 6 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a similar view on a plane denoted by the dotted line '1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a view in cross section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 9 -9 of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a similar section on aplane denoted by the dotted line 10 m of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is another similar view on a plane denoted by the dotted line 1111 of Figure 2.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view on a plane denoted by the dotted line 12-12 of Figure 2.

Figure 13 is a view in cross section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 1313 of Figure 4.

Figure 14 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 1414 of Figure 4, and Figure 15 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dottedline 1515 of Figure 1.

The channel plate embodying my improvement and illustrated and described herein 'com- 00 prises a back plate 20, a middle plate 21, and a front plate 22. A coin channel 23 is formed principally in the back plate 20, this channel following a devious path from a mouth 24 at the entrance to said channel at the top edge of the coin channel plate, a signal device, as a bell or gong, (not shown), being located'in the path of travel of a coin along said channel. In the structure shown herein this channel is the widest of three illustrated and is intended to receive a quarter dollar. A coin channel 25 is formed in the middle plate 21, this channel following a sinuous path from the mouth 26 thereof to' the bottom edge of the coin channel plate, this channel being next in width to the channel 23. 1.5 and being intended to receive a nickel. This channel directs a coin, as a nickel, into contact .with the lower edge of the bell 27. A coin chan nel 28 is also formed in the middle plate 21 and extends in an irregular path from the mouth 29 to the lower edge of the coin channel plate. The three plates just described are secured together in rigid contact as by means of screws or other suitable fastenings. The general arrangement and construction herein just described are old and well known and a further and detailed description thereof is omitted herein.- My present invention resides in improvements which I have added to this old construction to improve the action of the coins in traveling along the'channels in the plate and also to efiect maximum security against fraudulent use of the device.

It will be understood by those skilleddn the. art that coin channel plates of the kind herein illustrated and described are used in telephone instruments for the purpose of denoting the payment of a toll or fee for use of the instrument, the coins being inserted in openings in a slot plate afflxed to the top of the telephone and from which they are directed into the mouths of the .100 coin channel plate herein shown and after passing out at the bottom of the channels they are deposited in a coin box or, under certain conditions, are. returned to the user of the instrument. For thisreason a detailed description'and. an illustration of the parts appurtenant to the coin channel plate are omitted herein.

In prior structures of this type the coin channels have been formed with particular reference to economizing space, this contemplating the use of a single signal and the employment of por- 7 vice. It is a. purpose of my present invention not only to direct the coins into contact with the signal devices but to cause them to make such contact in a predetermined manner to effect increased and beneficial results. It is material to eflicient operation that the coins shall maintain a rolling contact with the channel to a maximum extent in order to properly strike the signals to produce clear sounds and also toavoid undue wear on the channel walls or edges at certain points. i

In my improved channel plate the coin channels are arranged so that the coins have a rolling action when they strike a bell or other signal, as distinguished from a non-rolling contact as by a sheer drop against the hell or other signal. I have illustrated this particularly in connection with the coin channels and 28 and especially the latter in which there is a vertically disposed curved passage formed by a shoulder 30 on one side of the passage and a curved mg 31 on the opposite side of the passage. When a coin enters the channel it rolls along the bottom edge thereof, rotating in a clockwise direction in the arto a second reversing-passage 37 in said channel where the direction ofrotation of thecoin is I rection. v

rangement shown herein. After leaving the bottom edge of the channel the force acquired by the rolling coin carries it against the opposite edge of the channel whereby it makes forcible contact with the opposite curved edge or shoulder 30, the lug 31 retaining the coin closely against lateral movement; This shoulder 30 directs the vertical movement of, the coin as it changes its. direction from amovement to the right at the entrance portion of the channel to a movement to the left along a succeeding portion of the channel. It is obvious that in changing this direction of movement the direction of rotation of the coin will also be changed, and this is effected in the passage defined by thewallsor edges 30 and 31, so that when the coin reaches the bell or signal 27 .it has a rolling movement across the edge of said bell as distinguished from said dropping movement above referred to. I therefore term this portion of the channel just described a reversingpassage ,32, the portion of an entrance passage 33.

From the reversing passage 7 an intermediate passage 34 after rolling past the edge of the bell 27 in contact therewith, the up-' per edge of .this intermediate passage having a stop 35 toprevent boundlng'of the coin from the bell. Reversing the direction of rotation of the coin to a rotationcontraclockwise causes it to travel readily along the intermediate passage 34 again changed into a" rotationin a clockwise di- In prior structures the outer wall or edge of this portion of the channel is subject to much wear and even distortion, owing to the force of the coins striking directly against such wall, this having heretofore been disposed substantially at rightanglesto the axis of the passage 34. This has had the effect of greatly shortening the life of the channel. plate.

To overcome this objection I provide a channel as the com e ters at the entrance of this second reversing passage with a speed reducing element 38 in the form of a sharply curved deflecting shoulder, as shown in dotted line in Figure 1 merged into a circular shaped portion, and in order to maintain the coin against the bottom of the channel and cause it to surely engage the coin with this speed reducing element I provide the cover or front plate 22 with a boss 39 on its back or under face to restrict the depth of the channel and cause the coin to travel closely against the back or bottom wall of said channel at the'time it reaches said speed reducing element. Contact with this speed reducing element lessens'the speed of travel of the coin as well as its speed of rotation with a result that when the coin ,encounters the thinoutside edge of the reversing passage 37- itsforcewill be so reduced as to have no material injurious effects on said edge.

This lessening of the speed of rotation of the the passage 40 into engagement with the loweredge of the bell 27 which it passes in rolling contact therewith, thereby effecting a sharp distinct sound. I

The coin channel 25 also has an entrance passage leading into a reversing passage located opposite the reversing passage in the channel 28. This channel 25 also has an intermediate passage leading into a second reversing passage 41, the lower part of this reversing passage comprising part of the reversing passage 37 hereinbefore described. The entrance, first reversing and intermediate passages just describedhave been given no characters in the drawings, as they will be readily perceived from the dotted lines in Figure 1, theyperforming no particular function except to maintain the rolling action of the coin. The second reversing passage reverses the direction of rotation of the coin, as a nickel, and thereby effects presentation of the coin to the bell 27 string, thread or other flexible connection attached thereto, such devices being manipulated within the channel to effect sounding of the signals the required number of times desired. To

the coin channels to prevent such acts. In the lower part of the channel 23 for the quarter dollarI project a trap lug 42 into one side of the channel, and asshown in Figure 3. The position of this lug forms' a slot between the lug and a shoulder 43 on the back plate 20. The lug has a lip 44 formed by undercutting its edge, and a 'hole 45 is formed through the back plate in the bottom of said slot and said lug is beveled down to the bottom of the channel 23 on the side op- .posite the lip 44.

The channel 23 is depressed, as at 46, under the lower edge of the lug 42 (see Fig. 14). In an attempt be made to sound the gong appurtenant to:the channel 23 by a device 47 of substantially the size of a quarter dollar, or even a quarter dollar attached to athread or cord 48, as shown in Figure 3, when it is attempted to retrieve the device by pulling the cord or thread upwardly the latter will. slip over, the beveled portion of the lug 42 into the groove at the edge of said lug and into the undercut recess underneath the lip 44 thereby preventing withdrawal of the device.

frustrate such attempts I have provided traps in the channel above this reversing passage being freely pass.

models If the thread or cord 48 be broken the device'will" fall out of the channel into the receptacle provided therefor.

To prevent such fraudulent use by means of a dime or similar device in the channel 28 the lug 31 is made effective. The lug is spaced at its upper end from a finger 49 forming a part of the channel 28 creating an opening 50, (see Fig. 2) and similarly the lower end of the lug is spaced from the projection'forming the stop. 35 creating an opening 51, a hole being formed through the plate underneath said opening. If an attempt be made to sound the bell 27 as by a coin or device 36 of the size of a dime attached to a cord, as shown in Figure 2, when the coin is pulled upwardly the cord will vpass over the beveled portion of the lug 31 and into the openings 50 and 51. This will prevent withdrawal of the dime 'or other device. After the coin or device 36 has been lowered into" the intermediate passage 34 either before 'or pafter an atteniptto withdraw the coin and effecting theresults'just described, if an attempt be made to sound the bell by a sudden pull on the cord to jerk the dime into con-- tact with the bells ward 53 in thebase of a" curved shoulder on the lower wallof the coin channel will throw the dime away from thebell and prevent the latter from being struck.

A releasing lug 54 is projected from'the underor back surface of the cover plate into alhole in the intermediate plate which saidlug closely fits. v I v I h "for. the passageof a coin, said: channel including" This will prevent the cord or thread-from being wedged between the front and intermediate plates in an attempt to wlthdraw'the ,coinVIn prior devices the cord frequently becomesthusswedgod. j

with the result that the coin is held suspended in} the channel and the apparatus therefore becomes inoperative. A similar lug 54 is near" the entrance of the coin channel '28asfshown' in dotted line in Figure 2 of the drawings toip'revent the same results.

In order to assist the movement of cordover the lug 31 a boss 55 is formed on the front or 1 plate (see 9) a I space between its under surface and*mm edge of said lug through cord} The coin channel 25 equipped torreceive, a nickel is provided with a. 1118 56st one'side thereof said lug extending intoa boss' :57 (see on the cover plate formed 'andopcratingas described with respect to ,thefbos's 55. A Releasing" lugs to prevent jamming of the formed with respect to this channel, operation to frustrate a fraudulent attemptato use the device is practically the same as hereinbefore described, a further and detailed description with respect to the channel 25 isomitted-I herein, it being briefly noted that the lug 56 has an undercut nose 58 underneath which the cord catches to prevent upward movement of the nickel 59 or other device of substantially the same size.

The mouths of the coin channels are beveled to a very thin edge, as shown in Flgures5, 6, 7, and 8 for the purpose of preventing a coin resting upon the edge of the channel plate when passing from the coin plate, an objection which results when the plates are not thus beveled. The upper wall of the passage 41 is beveled on at 52 adjacent to the speed reducing. element 38 andas shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings. This is for the purpose of raising the edge of a nickel or similar device when an attempt is made to withdraw such device as by means of a cord, the portion *witha coin orf'similar device ofsaidyertic'ak' i device located the of mfi stt passessaidshouider. a

,with said stop underneath said lip.

of the cord passing through the opening 1. A coin channel plate including a channel for the passage of a coin, said channel including a, passage inclined for movement of the coin ',in

one direction and an inclinedipassage for movement of the coinin' opposite direction, and a connecting passage. vertically arranged and comprising two walls extending parallel one with the other and curved to complete re versal of the direction of rotation of afcoinbefore reaching a signaldevice and therebypres'ent it in rolling action to a signal device, andf'afgig'nal device located in thjpnth of movementof'said'.

coin to receive it in: contact therewith;

2. A coin channel plate including for I the passage ofacoin, said inclined passage and a vertic sage extending therefrom ac the morejggradually curved off said" vertical v s h I vdo to awn nfe e nlr fle t j ss fan 5:]

ioo

passage "td-ease contact oi' -th e coin with the wall; I .7 I

-,:a. 'acoin channelf plate when a channel e. and-a signaldevice lo-" atedzinthepath ofsaid coin after thelatter passes said shoulder; '1

an inclined passage :and' a vertically arranged .aJPOiD gradua ly contact of thei com. with the, an or said vertical against z" said cated in path-"of-said. coin, arm the latter v e, means for directing} the 'coin:-' shoulder. and a, 'signal device, 10-'- coin "the assageofu alcoin;saidchannelincludingand: vertically passage w sl m. n o s da rticalinwace to i contactof the coin-with the-wall ofsiid vertical .1e, :a cover plate; for? said as. 'bos'son its under: entendinrintosaid in- I lined passage .toreduce its. depth'jan'ddirect a,-

ininto contact withsaid shoulder, sesame:

5; coin n l nl t includ nsa chine 13hr. i the passage of a-coin, a luglocated at cn'eJ-sideof';

channeland forming astop-toprevent I Y fward movement of a coin orsimilar-jdevice, a lip? on the end of said lug to engage over saldicom or i .v v I, ;v.

5 similar device, saidlug being beveled on its channel side to effect passagethereover of aflexible.

member attached to said device when enES-EQd 6. A coin channel plate including a channel for the passage of aicoin, means to; engage a flexible connection with a coin or 1 similar device to remove said connection from said channel, a,

stop to preventbackward movementof said c'oin or similar device attached to saidcoin, and means to prevent Jamming offsaidgcord andconsequent suspension of said device in an; channel when the cord is broken.

1 1 7. A coin manner-Thaw channelj for the passage ofra'coimlaco'vei' plate fonsaid.

- channel, means to :engage'fa iiexible'connection A nection from said channel, a stop to prevent backward movement of said coin or similar device attached to said cord, and a lug projecting from the back face of said cover plate to engage said 5 cord and prevent it from jamming between the cover and channel plates.

8. A coin channel plate including a channel for the passage ci a coin; a cover plate for said chan- GEORGE A. LONG. 

